15th International Survivors of Suicide Day program scheduled

The 15th annual International Survivors of Suicide Day program, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will take place from 12:45 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, in the Buffalo Psychiatric Center's Butler Rehabilitation Center Auditorium on the center's main campus, 400 Forest Ave., Buffalo.

This program will bring together people who have lost family members or friends to suicide for healing, support, information and empowerment.

"Each year 38,000 people in the United States die by suicide - today, these people include veterans, college-age young people whose personal lives have been broadcast over the Internet, and, most recently, adolescents affected by bullying," said Dr. Celia Spacone, the psychiatric center's director of operations and program coordinator. "With every suicide, there are family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers -'survivors' - left behind to cope with the tragic loss. This event is an opportunity for survivors to share their grief, reach out for support and support others."

The program will include a broadcast from the AFSP featuring people who have lost close relatives and friends to suicide. A local panel discussion will follow. Included on the panel will be family members who have lost relatives to suicide, a bereavement counselor, and mental health clinicians.

Doors will open at noon. A light lunch will be served. There is no fee, but registration is requested. To register or for more information, call 716-816-2011.

The following data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrates the prevalence of suicide:

•Every 13.7 minutes someone in the U.S. dies by suicide.

•Nearly 1 million people make a suicide attempt every year.

•Ninety percent of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.

Although most depressed people are not suicidal, two-thirds of those who die by suicide suffer from a depressive illness. Even though effective treatments are available, only one in three depressed people gets help.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Nationally, the suicide rate is now 12.4 suicides per 100,000 people. The rate of suicide has been increasing since 2000. This is the highest rate of suicide in 16 years.

Worldwide, suicide is among the three leading causes of death among people ages 15-54.